{at the shops: crucial trading}

. . . back after a spontaneously extended and beautiful weekend away and always delighted to discover new shops with great products, but even more so with equally lovely photography -- two current favourites being Plumo {and here}and Toast, and now have happily discovered the very British Crucial Trading, a creative floorcoverings and rugs company whose gorgeous photography is a captivating mix of a fashion editorial and a brisk and blustery afternoon curled up beside a warm and romantic fire . . .












. . . more at a glamorous little side project

{a glimpse: beautiful balmain}

. . . impossibly elegant gilt-panelled walls and mirrored halls, velvet chairs and intoxicating bouquets of roses, softly pooling drapery and sexy tulle-enveloped dresses: a glimpse into the enchanted world of balmain . . .

{images: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11 - joseph dirand architecture for balmain via the diversion project; 3 - magdalena frackowiak, paris fashion week - balmain spring/summer 2009 fashion show via fashionising; jacket via maison des rêveries; ;tulle skirt via a glamorous little side project; daria via a glamorous little side project}

{at home with: marc jacobs, paris}

. . . herringbone floors, juliet balconies and gilded mirrors -- vintage shots of marc jacobs' Parisian home are like a dream . . .



{see also:}
* at home with: jessica alba
* at home with: alexander wang

{images: scanned & created by Moodboard from House & Garden magazine November 2000, photography Fernando Bengoechea}

{late summer, early fall}

. . . intricately panelled walls, juliet balconies and elegant fireplaces, floods of dusky and romantic light and stunning chevron floors -- if one could describe the beautiful and all too fleeting moments between late summer and early fall, perhaps it would as this . . .

{p.s.} more perfectly ornate walls:
* happily ever after
* gilt & chevron

{also:} a corner fireplace

{images: b&b italia via marcus design, haute design & a previous post}

{two lovely things: black & white}

. . . whether an iconic and luxurious custom design perfectly paired with an ornate gilt console in the entryway, or a bold and impossibly stylish herringbone pattern in the powder room, there is such wonderful drama and visual impact in graphic patterns in shades of black and white . . .

{p.s.} recent two lovely things:
* bits of green
* cool august nights
* light & lavender

{ 1 - coco chanel's suite at the ritz paris via marcus design; 2 - christina murphy interiors}

{in the bedroom: crisp linens & scalloped edges}

. . . whether a wrought-iron italian campaign canopy or time-worn wood and draped in yards and yards of twilight gold linen, have always loved beds with canopies best, especially when strewn with crisp, late-summer white bedding and lacy, scalloped edges . . .

{image: trouvais}

{hello + a few things}

. . . french doors and a velvet tufted settee, wood floors and another stunning chandelier -- there is something about each of these things that adds such glamour and elegance to a room -- and all intermingled in one place, sheer perfection . . .

{p.s.} hello! things around here are rather sporadic on the best of days, but this week, more so than usual, so if you've just arrived, a list of the new & lovely things this week so far:

* hazy summer days: play of light & shadow
* lace bangle set give-away: and the winner is . . .
* blog inspiration: linen & lavender
* a new week: happy monday!
* first day of summer: italian silk & manicured gardens

{image: design is mine; more chandeliers here}

{one last thing}

. . . dashing out the door for a late brunch, but can never resist a beautiful chevron floor, especially perfectly time-worn and intermingled with elegant wood panelling, a tailored white sofa, floods of light, and a pile of strewn books & magazines . . .

{p.s.} late weekend links below xo

{image: b&b italia via linen & lavender}

{two lovely things: smokey violet & chevron floors}

{two lovely things}: whether in velvet on dining chairs and intermingling with mirrors and chandeliers, or in linen on an elegantly casual sofa and paired with perfectly paneled walls and luxurious gilt french mirrors, there is nothing quite like the stunning combination of smokey violet and always classic chevron floors . . .

{p.s.} utterly enchanted by the mirrored wall with the secret door

{images: head over heels}